TV and radio star Judi Spiers has called on people to nominate their unsung heroes for this year’s Devon Community Honours.

Judi, who has presented the awards in previous years, said that meeting the winners at the award ceremony always made her realise just how many people help their community, never expecting to be thanked for the important work they do.

Judi Spiers said presenting last year's Devon Community Honours was 'heart-warming'

“Often, I find the nominees feel that they really aren’t doing anything special, but they are. Organising meals on wheels or a weekly community lunch, really make such a difference to people’s lives," she said.

Read More

This year’s awards will be held at Exeter Castle, and will take the form of a fabulous afternoon tea with Prosecco. Judi Spiers will be at the event, which takes place on December 5 this year. The closing date for nominations is October 22, 2017 and entry is very simple, with just a short online form here: www.devonlive.com/communityhonours

“When you’re young, you automatically have a community, with school, college, family all around you,” said Judi. “Then, when you get older, you find people move away or even pass away. You’re lucky to know a handful of your neighbours at best. That’s when charity groups and support groups really do come into their own. It’s so vital to be part of something.”

Community projects make such a difference, says Judi Spiers

Read More

Judi has just spent a month on a special fundraising challenge, to visit as many charity coffee mornings as possible for Hospiscare. “It has been such an eye-opener. I have seen some fantastic communities, where people really do make the effort to include and support the people around them," she said.

“When I was presenting these awards in Torquay two years ago, I got talking to one of the winners, who was doing wonderful work with youngsters, getting them away from drink and drugs.

“He said to me, ‘I almost didn’t come. This feels really strange to be publicly recognised and made a fuss of.’ But I said to him: ‘You absolutely should be here. It encourages other people to work alongside you, it attracts financial support for what you do and it also makes people realise they can come to you for help.’ That’s why these community honours are so important."